Pumping system



E. E. VINSON PUMPING SYSTEM se t'. 6, 1938.

Filed May 28, 1937 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pumping systems for raisingquantities of water to suitable elevations where it may be available foruse in generating electrical power or for other purposes.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises a pair of complementarypumping units which are alternately raised and lowered through the forceof gravity by suitable means capable of shifting weights from one to theother, thereby continuously elevating quantities of water to a storagereservoir where it may be available for any one of a number of uses. Thepumping units are identical in construction and operation and eachcomprises a vertically reciprocating water containing tank having acompression plunger thereon which operates in a compression chamber toforce water to an elevated reservoir. The

Y plungers of the two units are connected by a cen- -trally pivotedwalking beam which constitutes means whereby one tank is raised as theother is lowered, the tanks being alternately raised and lowered bymeans associated with each for automatically lightening the load of oneand increasing the weight of the other.

The primary object of my invention is to provide improved pumpingapparatus of the kind characterized, whereby quantities of water may beelevated to a desired height where it may be 3% available for use ingenerating. electricity or in performing any one of a number of otherfunctions.

Other and further objects of my invention will be pointed outhereinafter, indicated in the ap- 353 pended claims or will be obviousto one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the presentdisclosure. I have elected to show herein certain forms and details of apumping system representative of my fll invention; it is to beunderstood, however, that the embodiment of my invention herein shownand described is for the purpose of illustration only, and thattherefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of the variations ofthe invention,

4551 nor is to it be given an interpretation such as might have theeffect of limiting the claims, short of the true and most comprehensivescope of the For the purposes of this application signated by similarreference characters. Each of the units comprises. a water containingtank I mounted on plungers 2 and 3 which are secured to its bottom. Theplunger 2 is cen rally disposed with respect to the bottom of the tank 5and it carries a piston 2' at its lower end which operates verticallywith reciprocating motion in a water compression cylinder 4. Theplungers 3 also carry pistons 3 which operate vertically withreciprocating motion in air compression cylinders 10 5. Connecting thelower end of the cylinder 4 with a reservoir or other suitable source ofwater supply C is an intake pipe 6 having a check valve 1 which allowswater to flow from the source of supply to the cylinder 4 but not in a 1reverse direction. Connecting the lower end of the water compressioncylinder 4 with a vertical pipe 8 leading to an elevated tank orreservoir 9 is an outlet pipe [0 having a check valve II which allowswater to flow from the cylinder 4 to the pipe 8 but not in a reversedirection. The air compression cylinders 5 are each provided at a pointnear its lower closed end with air intake means l2 having a check valvel3 which allows air to enter the said cylinder through said means butprevents air from proceeding from said cylinder in a reverse direction.Connecting the lower end. of each of the air compression cylinders. 5with a vertical conduit. l4 leading to a container l5 for compressedair, is an outlet pipe l6 having a check valve I! which allows air toproceed from the said compression cylinder through the said outlet pipebut not in a Y reverse direction.

' Mounted in the tank I and wholly submerged in a suitable amount ofwater contained therein, is a hollow container or float l8 adapted to bealternately filled with air and water. When the float is filled withwater and is submerged beneath the surface of the water in the tank I,it is supported by cables H! which are suspended from a suitable framemember 20. Secured to opposite ends of the bottom of the float I8 arecables 2| which extend firstly over pulleys 22 secured to the bottom ofthe tank I, then upwardly and over pulleys 23 supported on a beam 24secured to the top end of the tank, and then downwardly outside the tankto anchorages 25 secured to a frame-member 26. The bottom of the floatI8 is provided with a water intake opening which is normally closed by avalve member 21 which closes by gravity and is normally maintained in aclosed position by compressed air in the float, but which is adapted tobe opened by the outside water pressure when the compressed air isexhausted from the said float. Located centrally in the bottom of thefloat is a water outlet opening which is controlled by a gate 28. Acounter balancing weight member 29, rigidly secured to the gate anddisposed at the opposite side of the gates hinge, serves to normallymaintain the gate in a closed position over the water outlet opening.The top of the float I8 is provided with another water inlet openingcontrolled by a valve member 38 which opens by gravity when compressedair is evacuated from the inside of the said float. The valve member 3!!permits water to enter through the top of the float when the lattersubmerges so as to balance the upward pressure of water normallyentering through the bottom intake opening which is controlled by thevalve memberZI. Mounted on the top of the float I8 is an upstanding airoutlet pipe 3| having a valve 32 at its upper end which is provided withan outwardly disposed operating lever 33. The outwardly dis posed end ofthe lever 33 is connected to a cable 34 which is secured to andsuspended from the beam 24, the said cable serving to close the valve 32when the bottom of the float reaches the bottom of the tank I, therebypreventing any air from escaping from the said float. Secured to andextending downwardly from the beam 24 is a rigid bar 35, the lower endof which is positioned to intercept the operatinglever 33 of the valve32 to turn the latter to an open position when the top of the floatbecomes flush with the surface of the water in he tank, thereuponallowing compressed air in the float to escape and water to enterthrough the bottom opening controlled by the valve member 21.

Water is supplied to the tank I by a pipe 36 which has a control valve31 associated there with.

Leading from the compressed air container I is a p pe 38 having aflexible tubular extension 39 which is connected to the float IS. Avalve 43 on the pipe 38, having an operating lever 4|, serves to controlthe flow of compressed air from the container I5 to the float. Securedto the s de of the tank I and positioned to intercept the operatinglever 4! of the valve 43 when the tank moves up .and down, are upper andlower spaced projecting trips 42 and 43. The upper trip 42 engaging withthe operating lever 4! turns the valve 48 to a closed position while thelower trip engaging with the said lever opens the valve.

Pivotally supported at its center on a stationary supporting member 44is a walking beam 45, the ends of the latter having slots 48 throughwhich lugs 41 carried by the plungers 2 of the two units A and B extend.The downward movement of the tank I and the plunger 2 of one unit causesthe walking beam 45 to actuate the tank and plunger of the other unit inan upward direction.

,The compressed air container I5 is provided with valve controlledcompressed air intake means 48which is connected to a suitable sourceofsupply for compressed air, and also with a valve controlled air exhaustvmeans 49 for exhausting air from the container.

The compressed air carrying pipe 38 is provided with a valve 58 whichhas an operating rod 5| extending in opposite directions, the ends ofthe latter having chains or cords 52 suspended therefrom for permittingthe convenient opening, and closing of the said valve.

In priming the pumping system to commence 'the pipes 38.

its operation, the valve 50 is first closed to prevent the passage ofcompressed air into and through the pipes 38. Compressed air of asuitable pressure is admitted to the compressed air container I5 toinitially charge the same. The valves 40 and 32 are closed by movingtheir operating levers 33 and 4|, respectively, to a downwardly slantingposition and an upwardly inclined position. The floats I8 of both unitsare filledwith water through the intake openings at their upper sides,thereupon causing them to be supported by their respective sets ofcables I9, as indicated by unit A. Equal amounts of water are admittedto the tanks I from the supply pipe 36, to a depth equal to the lengthof the stroke of the plungers 2, plus the depth of the float I8 and plusenough additional depth to produce a certain degree of slack in thecables 2|, as indicated by unit A. The two units are evenly balancedafter equal amounts of water are admitted to the two tanks I, and thewalking beam 45 is then positioned horizontally, as illustrated on thedrawing. The floats I8 of both units are each thereupon suspended fromand supported by its respective set of cables 59, and each is submergedmidway between the surface of the water and the bottom of its tank I, asindicated by unit A. The floats I8 when in this position do not exertany pressure on the bottom of the tanks through the cables 2|, nor onthe plungers 2 and 3, the said floats and contents being supportedentirely by the cables I9. The valve 58 is thereupon opened to allow theflow of compressed air from the container I5 through The valve 48 on thepipe 38 of one of the units, as for instance unit B, is opened to allowcompressed air to enter the float I8 of this unit so as to force thewater therefrom into its associated tank I through the openingcontrolled by the valve 28. During this initial operation the weightmember 29 is supported by any suitable outside means until the float isemptied of water. In subsequent operations weight member 29 rests on thebottom of the tank I while Water is being expelled from the float. Thewater level in this particular unit thereupon rises, and the now buoyantfloat I8 exerts an upward pull on the cables 2| and a downward pull onthe tank I. The pressure thus exerted by the buoyant float I8 is equalto the weight of the water displaced by the float minus the weight ofthe material from which the float is made. It thus appears that theweight of the water previously confined in the float I8 plus the weightof the float itself (which had previously been supported by cables I9)is now added to the load in the tank. The additional weight now placedon the tank of unit B causes a downward pressure to be exerted therebywhich is equal to the weight of the water expelled from the float, plusthe weight of the float plus the buoyant pressure heretofore mentioned.The drawing illustrates unit B in the course of its downward stroke,while unit A is at the same time making its upward movement. When thedownward stroke of unit B and the upward stroke of unit A are completedthe water level in the tank I of unit B will be even with the top of thefloat I8 in this unit, and at the same time the water level in the tankof unit A will have risen above the top of the float of unit A adistance equal to the length of the stroke of plungers 2 and 3. At theend of this operation the trip 42 of unit B completes the closing of thevalve 40 of this unit and prevents the passage of compressed air intoits associated float 18, while at the same time the :bar 35 .of the sameunit opens itsassociated valve 32 allowing air to escape fromthe saidfloat. Upon the discharge of the compressed air from the float I8 ofunit 3 through its associated upright'pipe 3!, the said float sinksbecomes filled with water which enters/through its bottom intakeopeningcontrolled by valve 2i. The sinking or lowering .of ithefloat l8.ofx'unit B causes the slack in cables, L9 'to be taken up and at thesame timethere is a corresponding slack produced in cables 2| (asillustrated in unit A).

With the downward stroke of the tank I of 'unit B, as above described, areverse or upward movement-occurs with respect to unit A. At the endxofthe upward stroke of the tank I of unit A the trip 43 opens the valve 40to admit compressed air to the float of this unit, thereby causing thewater contained therein to be expelled into the said tank The cable 3:4pulling upwardlyon the operating lever 33 of valvev 32 at the end of theupward stroke of unit A, causes the'said valve to close, therebypreventing the escape of compressed airlwhich is admitted upon theopening ofthevalve 40. Thus the excess load is shifted from unitBco-incident with the shifting of the same load to unit A, and thereuponthe'strokes of the plungers in-the respective units are reversed, unit Adescending and unit B rising, until each unit reaches the end of itsstroke, when the movements of the two unitsare again reversed. Theautomatic shifting of the load from one unit to the other, brought aboutby the operation of the valves of the floats l8, causes the alternaterise and descent of the tanks, plungers and pistons of the two units.With each upward stroke of the plunger 2 and pistons 2' water is drawninto the compression cylinders 4','and with each downward stroke of saidplungers and pistons the water in the cylinders is forced'throughpipes'l l1 and 8 into the elevated reservoir '9. Similarly, air is drawninto the air compression cylinders 5 with each upward stroke of theplungers 3 and pistons 3", and then forced through'pipes lfi'and l4 intothe compressed air container [5.

When water slightly in excess of the weight of the material of a floatl8has been forced there from by the entering of compressed air, the saidfloat will rise until the slack in its associated cables 2| is taken up,and a corresponding slack will then be produced in the cables '19 whichpreviously supported said float. The distance between the bottom of thesaid float and the surface of the water in its associated tank isthere'- upon lessened, thereby reducing the water pressure on the valve28. The reduction of the water pressure on the valve 28 corresppndinglylessens the air pressure required to open said valve. The said float isheld in this position by the cables 2! until all of the water isexpelled therefromlwhereupon the said float attains its maximum buoyancyand thereby exerts the full downward pressure on its associated tank.

While suitable means is shown and described foroperating the valves 32and All, it is to be understood that electrical or ther means may besatisfactorily employed without departing from the spirit of myinvention, Likewise the valves 31 controlling the flow of water trom thesupply pipe ,36 into the tanks! may be operated either by hand orautomatically to replenish that water which might be lost through anycause such as evaporation. 7

Having described my invention, What I claim is: 1. A pumping systemcomprising a pair of rea plunger; water compression cylinders withinwhich the :plungers reciprocate, each having water intake means andwater outlet means; a centrally pivoted walking beam connected-at itsends to the plungers; a continuous outside source of compressed. airproduced independently of the machine, a, hollow float in each tankhaving combecome buoyant and rise in the water of its asso-' ciatedtank. and the said tanks load may be increased by the water expelledfrom the said float; means associated with each float for causing air tobe discharged from the float to allow water to enter and cause the floatto submerge in the water of its associated tank whereby the meansassociated with the float for supporting it when it descends may thentake up the weight of the float from the tank; and means synchronizedwith the tanks for causing compressed air to enter oneof the floats andwater to exhaust therefrom while compressed air is being exhausted fromthe other float and water is being admitted thereto, whereby the Weightof the loads of the two tanks may be alternately shifted from one to theother to cause the said tanks to alternately rise and fall and tothereby cause the operation of the plungers in their'water compressioncylinders.

2. A pumping system comprising a pairof reciprocating water containingtanksadapted to move in opposite directions as their loads alter natelyincrease and decrease; a water compression cylinder associated with eachtank having waterinlet and water outlet means; a source of water supplyconnected to the inlet means of each cylinder; a water reservoirconnected to the out let means of each cylinder; a reciprocating plungercarried by each tank, and located in a compression cylinder; a hollowfloat in each tank having compressed air inlet and outlet means and;

also water inlet and outlet means; a continuous outside source ofcompressed air produced inde pendently of the machine connected to thecompressed air inlet means of each float means associated with eachfloat for supporting the weight thereof when it is filled with water andsubmerges in the water of its associated tank; means associated witheach float for allowing compressed air to enter it and expel watertherefrom into the water of its associated tank whereby the weight ofthe tanks load may be increased and the said tank may be moved in adownward direction; means associated with each float for causing an tobe discharged therefrom to allow the water to enter it and cause it tosubmerge in the water of its associated tank, whereby the means associ,

fromand at the same time causing compressed. air to exhaust from theotherof the floats and.

water to enter the same, whereby a, preponderant part of the weight ofthe loads of the two tanks may be alternately shifted from one to theother to'cause them to alternately rise and fall and *ciprocating.water'containing tank's eachcarrying clprocating water containing tanksadapted to thereby cause the operation of theirrespective plungers inthe water compression cylinders.

3. A pumping system comprising a pair of reciprocating watercontainingtanks adaptedto move in opposite directions as their loads arealternately increased and decreased; a plunger carried by each tank;water compression cylinders in which the plungers reciprocate, the saidcyline ders each having water inlet means and water outlet means, theinlet means being connected to a source of water supply and the outletmeans beingconnected to a water container; a hollow float in each tankhaving compressedair inlet and outlet means and also water inlet andoutlet means; a continuous source of compressed air producedindependently of the machine connected to the compressed air inlet meansof each float; cables connected with each float for supporting theweight thereof when it is filled with water and submerges in the waterof its associated tank; means associated with each float and adapted tobe actuated by the rise of the said floats associated tank for allowingcompressed air to enter the said float and expel water therefrom intothe water of its associated tank, whereby the weight of the loadoi thelatter may be increased and the said tankmay be actuated in a downwarddirection; means associated with each float and adapted' to be actuatedby fall of the said floats associated tank for causing air to bedischarged therefrom to allow water to enter it and cause it to descendin the water of its associated tank, whereby the cables associated withthe said float for supporting the latter when it descends may take upthe weight of the said float from its associated tank to lighten theload of the latter; means associated with the tanks for causing one tobe elevated by the downward movement of the other: and meanssynchronized with the tanks for alternately causing compressed air toenter one of the floats and water to exhaust therefrom and at the sametime causing compressed air to exhaust from the other of the floats andwater to enter the same, whereby a preponderant part of the wei ht of te loads of the two tanks may be alternately shifted from one to theother to cause them to alternately r se and fall and thereby cause theoperation of their respective plungers in the compression cylinders.

4. A pumping system comprising a pair of remove in opposite directionsas their loads are alternately increased and described; a plurality ofplungers carried by each tank, one of the plungers of each tank beingpositioned in. a water compression cylinder having inlet and outletmeans and another of the plungers of each tank being positioned in anair compression cylinder having air inlet and outlet means; meanssupplying water to the inlet means of the water compression cylinder; awater reservoir connected to the outlet of the water compressioncylinder; a compressed air container having means associated therewithfor supplying compressed air from a source independent of the machineconnected to the air outlet of the air compression cylinder; a hollowfloat in each tank having compressed air inlet means and air outletmeans, and also water inlet and water outlet means; means connectinginto its associated tank whereby the weight of the load of the said tankmay be increased by the added expelled water; means associated with eachfloat for causing air to be discharged from the float to allow water toenter and cause the float to submerge in the water of its associatedtank whereby the means associated with the float for supporting it whenit submerges may then take up the weight of the float from the tank;means synchronized with the tanks for causing compressed air to enterone of the floats and water to exhaust therefrom while compressed air isbeing exhausted from the other float and water is being admitted theretowhereby a portion of the weights of the loads of the two tanks may bealternately shifted from one to the other to cause the said tanks toalternately rise and fall and to thereby cause the operation of theplungers in their associated compression cylinders; and means associatedwith the tanks and adapted to be actuated by the downward movement ofone of them, for elevating the other.

5. A pumping system comprising a pair of reciprocating water containingtanks each carrying a plunger; water compression cylinders within whichthe plungers reciprocate, each having water intake means and wateroutlet means; means for supplying the tanks'and cylinders with water; acentrally pivoted walking beam connected at its ends to the plungers; ahollow Water or air containing float in each tank, which is at allstages of the operation completely submerged in the water contained inthe tank, each float having compressed air inlet and outlet means andalso water inlet and outlet means; means associated with each hollowfloat for supporting the weight thereof in excess of the weight of thewater displaced by it when it fills with water and descends in the watercontained in the tank;'a continuous outside source of compressed airproduced independently of the machine; means associated with each floatfor causing compressed air from the said source to enter said float andexpel water therefrom whereby the float may becornea buoyant float andrise in the water of its associated tank; means connected with eachair-filled buoyant float for exerting a downward pressure on itsassociated tank when the said buoyant float rises, the said downwardpressure on the tank being further increased by the increased depth ofwater in the tank by the water expelled from the said float; meansassociated with each buoyant float for causing air to be dischargedtherefrom so as to allow water to enter and cause the float to descendin the water of its associated tank whereby the means associated withthe float for supporting its weight in excess of the weight of the waterdisplaced by it when it descends may take up said excess weight of thewater-filled float from the tank; and means synchronized with the tanksfor causing compressed air to enter one of the floats and water toexhaust therefrom while compressed air is being exhausted from the otherfloat and water is being admitted thereto, whereby the weight of theload of one of the tanks is increased coincidentally with a decrease inthe load a of the other, thereby causing the said tanks alternately torise and fall and thereby causing the operation of the plungers in'theirwater compression cylinders.

6. A pumping system comprising apair of reciprocating water containingtanks adapted to move in opposite directions as their loads alternatelyincrease and decrease; a water compression cylinder associated with eachtank having allow water toenter it anamusea to descend in the waterof-its associated tank, whereby the having compressed air inlet andoutlet means,

and also waterdnlet and outlet means; a continuous outside source ofcompressed air produced independently of the machine, the said source ofcompressed air being connected to the com-pressed air inlet means ofeachfloat; means associated with each float for supporting the weightthereof in excess of the weight of the water displaced by it when it isfilled with water and descends in the water contained in its associatedtank; means associated with each float for allowing compressed air toenter it and expel water therefrom intothe water of its associated tankwhereby the depth of water in the tank is increased and the weight ofthe tanks load is increased, thereby causing said tank to move in adownward direction; means associated with each float for causing air tobe discharged therefrom to allow water to enter it and cause it todescend in the water of its associated tank, whereby the supportingmeans associated with the said float may take upthe weight of the saidfloat in excess of the weight of water displaced by it and therebylighten the load of the tank; means associated with the tanks forcausing one to be elevated by the downward movement of the other; andmeans synchronized with the tanks for alternately causing compressed airto enter one of the floats and water to exhaust therefrom and at thesame time causing compressed air to exhaust from the other of the floatsand water to enter the same, whereby the preponderant part of the weightof the loads of the two tanks may be alternately shifted from one to theother to cause them alternately to rise and fall and thereby cause theoperation of their respective plungers in the water compressioncylinders.

7. A pumping system comprising a pair of reciprocating water containingtanks adapted to move in opposite directions as their loads arealternately increased and descreased; a plunger carried by each tank;water compression cylinders in which the plungers reciprocate, the saidcylinders each having water inlet means and water outlet means, theinlet means being connected to a source of water supply and the outletmeans being connected to a water container; means for supplying water toeach tank from an available source; a hollow float in each tank havingcompressed air inlet and outlet means and also water inlet and outletmeans; a continuous outside source of compressed air producedindependently of the machine, the said source of compressed air beingconnected to the compressed air inlet means of each float; meansassociated with each float for supporting the weight thereof in excessof the weight of water displaced by it when it is filled with water anddescends in the water of its associated tank; means associated with eachfloat and adapted to be actuated by the rise of the said floatsassociated tank for allowing compressed air to enter the said float andexpel water therefrom into its associated tank, whereby the load of thetank may be increased and the said tank may be actuated in a downwarddirection; means associated with each float and adapted to be actuatedby the fall of the said floats associated tank for causing air to bedischarged therefrom so as to supportingmeans associated with the saidfloat may take uptheweight of the said float in excess of the weight ofwater displaced'by it, and 'thereby' lighten the load of thetank; meansassociated with-the tanks for ca'using one to be ele'vatd-byth downwardmovement of the other;

and meanssynchronize'd withthe tanks for alternately causing compressedair to enter one of the floats and water to exhau-st therefrom and atthe same time causing compressed air to exhaust from the other of thefloats and water to enter the same, whereby a preponderant part of theweight of the loads of the two tanks may be alternately shifted from oneto the other to cause; them alternately torise and fall andthereby'cause the operation of their respective plungers inthe'compression cylinders.

'8 A pumping system comprising-a pair of reciprocati-ng Water containingtanks adapted to move in opposite directionsas their loads arealternately increased and decreased; a plurality of plungers carried byeach tank, at least one of the plungers of each tank being positioned ina water compression cylinder having inlet and outlet means and at leastanother of the plungers of each tank being positioned in an aircompression cylinder having air inlet and outlet means; meansforsupplying water to the inlet means of thewatercompression cylinder; awater reservoir connected to the outlet of the water compressioncylinder; a compressed air container having means associated therewithfor supp ying compressed air from a source independently of the machine,the said source of compressed air being connected to the air outlet ofthe air compression cylinder; means for supplying compressed air to saidcompressed air container from a source; a hollow float in each tankhaving compressed air inlet means connected to the compressed aircontainer, also air outlet means and also water inlet and water outletmeans; means associated with each float for supporting the same when itis filled with water and descends in the water of its associated tank;means associated with each float for causing compressed air to enter itand expel water therefrom into its associated tank thereby increasingthe depth of water in the tank and consequently the pressure per squarefoot on the floor of the tank; means associated with each float forcausing compressed air to escape from the float thereby allowing waterto enter and cause the float to descend in the water of its associatedtank whereby the supporting means associated with the float may take upthe weight of the float in excess of the weight of the water displacedby it; means synchronized wth the tanks for causing compressed air toenter one of the floats and water to exhaust therefrom while compressedair is being exhausted from the other float and water is being admittedthereto whereby a portion of the weights carried by the two tanks may bealternately shifted from one to the other to cause the said tanks toalternately rise and fall and cause the operation of the plungers intheir associated compression cylinders; and means associated with thetanks and adapted to be actuated by the downward movement of one of themfor elevating the other.

9. In pumping system, a pair of water containing tanks adapted to movealternately up and down with reciprocating motion; means associated withthe tanks for causing the elevation of one by the downward movement ofthe other;

pumping means associated with each tank; a submerged fioat in each tankand adapted to be filled alternately with air and water, therebyalternately increasing and decreasing the weights of the loads carriedby the tanks; means connected to a source of supply for supplyingcompressed air ,from a source outside of and independent of the machineto the floats; and means associated with the floats for causing thefloats to be filled alternately with air and water to increase anddecrease the weight of the load of their respective tanks, whereby onetank may descend while the other rises.

10. In a pumping system, a pair of water containing tanks adapted tomove alternately up and down with the shifting of a certain weight fromone to the other; water pumping means and means for compressing airassociated with and actuated by each tank; means for supplying water tothe pumping means from a source of supply; means associated with thetanks for causing the elevation of one by the downward movement of theother; a hollow container in each tank; means for supplying eachcontainer with compressed air from a source outside of and independentof the machine; means for filling the containers alternately withcompressed air and water thereby alternately increasing and decreasingthe weight of the containers and also of the loads carried by the tanks,whereby the said tanks may be moved alternately up and down.

11. In a pumping system, two vertically moving units connected by meanswhereby the descent of one causes the rise of the other, the said unitsbeing substantially alike as to construction, weight and componentparts; each unit consisting of a water containing tank; a hollowcontainer within the tank, having means for holding the same at alltimes completely submerged in the water contained in the tank; means forfilling the hollow container with water from that contained in the tank,thereby decreasing the depth of water in the tank and the pressure onthe bottom thereof; means for emptying the water from said containerback into the body of water contained in the tank, thereby increasingthe depth of water in the tank and also increasing the pressure on thebottom. thereof, and, by the same action causing the said hollowcontainer to become a buoyant float exerting an upward pressure; meansfor supporting said container when filled with water and preventing itfrom sinking to the bottom of the tank; means associated with thecontainer and the tank for causing the buoyant pressure of saidcontainer, when water is removed therefrom, to be exerted as downwardpressure upon its associated tank; means associated with each unit forpumping water to an elevation for any useful purpose.

ELMER E. VINSON.

